Garment supporter



'T. H. REIN'HARDT AND ILA. MERKLER.

.GARMENT SUPPORTE'R. APPLICA'TI'ON FILED MAR. 16.1921A 1,402, 3.7 8. Patnted Jan. 3, 1922.

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'rHnorHInus H. nnrnnnan'r GAREVENT SUPPORTER.

Application filed March 18, 1921.

To all whom t 'may concern.'

Be it known that we, THiiorHrLUs H. REIN- 'Hinor and JosnrH A. Mnnnnnn, both citizens of the United States, and residents of Staten Island, in the county of Richmond and State Vof New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Garment Supporters, of which the following 1s a specification.

The principal purpose of this invention isto produce a clip engageable` with the upper end of a stocking or like article in a secure manner without damage to the same, the clip being attached to the tape, preferably elastic, secured iny any convenient manner to othergarments or a band worn for that purpose.

Another object is to provide devices having cushioned gripping jaws capable of being widely opened'for the insertion ofthe articles to be supported, or instantly clamped' tight upon it so as to prevent slipping, but without tearing :or otherwise'damagmg the article.

A still further object is in the provision of clips shaped to conform to the limb c ncased inthe supported article by being suitably curved, thus being worn with entire comfort and presenting` no unsightly projection. f i

These and other objects, such as neatness of appearance, ease of vattachment and adjustment, durability and cheapness of construction are attained by the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and shown inthe accompanying drawings, forming a material part of this disclosure and in which Figure l is a perspective view of a clip made in accordance with the invention, shown in an open vposition and drawn to an enlarged scale.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the same, shown closed and indicating the manner in which it is supported.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view thereof.

Figure i is a central longitudinal sectional view.

Figure 5 is a bottom view.

Stated briefly in general terms, the device consists of a thin flat plate, its upper end containing an elongated transverse slot suited to receive the supporting tape and its lower Specification of Letters atent.

Fatenteol Jan. 3, 1922.

serial' No. 53,468.

end extended on both sides to a suitable width, curved to present a concave rear surface approximating the limit against which it will be adjacently disposed.

The lower and end edges are turned outwardly forming a socket receptive of arub-l ber cushion havinga longitudinally ribbed face and above the socket are a pair of lugs acting as hinge elements Vfor the clamping jaw.V

This jaw agrees with the lower element in dimensions and like it is provided with a socket carrying a cushion complementary to the other, and between which the supported article is clamped.

lever, pivoted on the plate, hasv an offset portion adapted to make contact with the outer 'surface of the clamp element, the other A end of the lever acting as a handle by which it is operated and means are provided to maintain the lever when adjusted in a clamping position.

xeferring now more particularly to the drawings in detail, the numeral l0 designates a metallic body having a neck l1 merging into a head l2 pierced by an elongated transverse slot la in which is secured a tape l5 attached at its upper support.

The base 16 is concavely curved to a radius approximating the limit of a person and has its marginal edges raised forming the walls end to any preferred- 17 and 13'. of a-socket having secured therein a block 19 of elastic material vprovided with a central longitudinal raised rib 20.

A pair of lugs or ears 22 are formed with the side edges of the plate l0 at points above the socket, these lugs being perforated to receive pintles 24 formed on opposite sides of the leaf or clamp jawV element 25 curved in accordance with the base, and carrying, in a socket formed by the walls 26 and 27, respectively end and bottom, another elastic block 28 having ribs 29 complementary to the rib 20.

In a plane above the lugs 22 and at a point central of the body plate 10 is a raised boss 3() having on its upper seat surface, a lever 3l pivoting on the rivet 32 passing through the lever and boss and being upset at both ends.

The front or lower'end 33 of the lever is offset and adapted, when positioned lengthwise the device, to press upon the conveX outer surface of the clamp element 25, forcing the cushions 28 and 19 yieldingly toward each other.

rlhe upper end of the lever 3l has an outturned end 34E adapted to act as a handle iii operating the lever, which may be turned in either direction as may be most convenient and when off the clamp element yallows the latter to be raised to the fullest extent.

ln order to maintain the lever in clamping position and stress the clamp by the resilient effect of the levei when central upon it to the limit, a raised bridge 35 is extended across the neck ll and at the center of it is a depression 36 receptive of the lever and when extended lengthwise, the upper surface ofthe bridge being outwardly inclined from its ends toward the center.

rlhe rear element of the fastener is preferably provided with a lining or outer covering 40, made of any suitable material, as cloth, felt or chamois leather, the same preventing the metallic parts of the clasp from making direct Contact with the person of the user.

In operation, the lever is turned crosswise of the clip, freeing the clamp j aw which is raised ,and the article to be supported entered so as to be engaged by the cushion whereupon the levei` is rotated upon its axis,

one end pressing` the clamp resiliently down- -ward, while Vthe other end of lever mounts .the bridge and snaps into the depression byA which it is held against accidental displace-V n ment. i. i I, Due tothe relatively large area of the cushion surfaces and their curvature, an entered article is firmly secured and the clip worn with entire comfort.

panyin'g drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

' 2. in article of the class described, coniprising a plate, having side extensions on its broadened lower portion, said plate being curved longitudinally, lugs formed with said Y plate, a clamp element pivoted in said lugs extending over the lower portion of said plate and bent in conformity to it, a lever pivoted on said plate having a part engageable with said clamp, sockets formed in said plate and clamp element, elastic cushions in said sockets, and a raised transverse element formed with said plate having inclined surfaces adapted to stress said lever when moved tliereover;

3. in article of the class described, comprising a plate curved longitudinally'at its lower inclined portion, a clamp element hingedly engaged to said plate, said clamp being curved in conformity to said plate, a resilient lever pivoted on said plate, said lever having an offsetend engageable over the convex surface of said clamp, a rib on the upper end of said plate, said rib having inclined surfaces contactahle with the other end of said lever, and means in said rib adapted to engage said lever when in operative position.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification. Y

THEOPHILUS H. BEINHARDT. JOSEPH A. MERKLER. 

